Making the transition back to work after a life altering disability is a big move, but taking small ... [+]
pexelsWhen you’ve suffered from a disability or debilitating illness, returning to work is often the last thing on your mind. Recovery has to be the first priority, followed by figuring out how to balance keeping your home, supporting your family and finding a way to move forward with your life. At the very bottom of that list is navigating the transition back to work, once you’re medically recovered enough to do so.
But even though it’s a lower priority, it’s important to give the process of returning to work the time and attention it deserves. It can be difficult enough to go back to work after a week-long vacation, but for individuals with disabilities, this return to work comes after what may have been years of illness and recovery. The key to making it through this process is to manage your expectations and to make sure you prepare for the transition.
Going from recovery to a full-time work schedule is a serious adjustment and requires both mental and physical preparation to do so successfully. Here at Allsup, we’ve spoken with many clients going through the transition and the challenges they face on an everyday basis. A common issue we’ve heard is the tendency to get discouraged, which is why it’s necessary to maintain perspective and be realistic about what you can handle.
It’s also important to remember that you’re not in this alone. Aside from family and friends, there are a wide range of organizations, support groups and experts available to help ease the pain of transition. In addition, doing volunteer work in your local community can be a useful in-between step to help you return to the working world. The challenge of returning to work isn’t just the job itself, it’s getting into that mindset, so starting off by volunteering can initiate that shift back to work mode.
One of our customers obtained a Forklift Operator license through his local Volunteers of America office, an organization that provides employment services to disabled individuals. He’s currently using this new certification to find employment. Another individual is in the middle of working her way back into project management after recovering from a chronic illness. She has kept her certifications updated and her skills sharp by taking online training courses and volunteering a couple of hours each day for a company in need of her expertise. Both customers actively work with their case managers to help identify their strengths, set realistic goals, and develop transferable skills for future jobs.
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Volunteer work also helps case managers assess how motivated and ready individuals are to work, and these opportunities can even have the potential to turn into jobs. It may be difficult to find ways to volunteer during the pandemic, but these experiences can help fill in resume gaps in the long run and are worth looking into once it’s safe to do so.
For individuals with mental health conditions, scheduling extra appointments with your mental health professionals can help allay some of the fear and anxiety brought on by this change. You will probably need plenty of support as you return to work, so be sure to schedule appointments with your therapist or counselor in advance.
Taking steps to ensure you have the support you need will make a difficult transition that much easier, and being careful to manage your own expectations will help you to avoid getting discouraged by the process. Returning to work after recovering from a disability or illness is a major accomplishment, so take it slow and remember that, even if they feel small, your everyday efforts to ease back into work will be rewarded in the long-run.
The Link LonkJanuary 29, 2021 at 09:44PM
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Managing Personal Expectations When Returning To Work - Forbes
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